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Somerset Borough Council Minutes

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Borough of Somerset Council Meeting
June 24th, 2019 7:00 p.m.

      Meeting was called to order by President Ruby Miller, opening with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
  
Roll Call:
      Council Members present:  Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Judy Pyle; Pam Ream; Sue Opp; Steve Shaulis and Gary Thomas.      
      Present was Mayor Scott Walker. 
      Also present was Junior Council Member Jonathan Wagner.
      Present were the following: Borough Manager, Michele Enos; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; Chief of Police, Randy Cox; Solicitor, James Cascio and Consulting Engineers, Tom Reilly and Jake Bolby. 

Announcements:
      Ms. Enos announced to Borough Council that there have been several organizations that have been working with the Borough on the Union Street Playground. Morgan Simmons has been spearheading this for the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library. Additional organizations are involved including Somerset Inc.  Jackie, from Laurel Arts, will be doing some activities in the playground this year, and is setting up a volunteer schedule. 

Ms. Enos explained that the Borough is requesting all Federal Clearances to be filed here for all employees who have one-on-one contact with the children at the playground.
She stated that they are working on a schedule for the entire summer with activities, along with staffing the pool with volunteers.

Ms. Enos added that the Borough spoke to our Solicitor, as well as our insurance company, and everything is “a go”.  

Ms. Enos mentioned that as soon as the Borough receives the schedule, and all the clearances, she will make Borough Council aware of it.  She will also provide Council with a schedule for all the summertime activities. 

Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings:
  (a) May 13, 2019 – Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded to approve the May 13th, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes.         
Motion Unanimously Carried
(b) May 28th, 2019 – Borough Council Meeting Minutes

Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve May 28th, 2019 Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried

  (c) Departmental Reports - Approval of Departmental Reports for May 2019

Motion
Mrs. Ream moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve theDepartmental Reports for May 2019.                   
Motion Unanimously Carried

Award of Bids:

  (a) Highland Park Looped Water Line Project – Consider authorizing this project to the lowest responsive bidder.

Ms. Enos disclosed that the Highland Park Looped Water Line Project was a grant funded project, located in the Highland Park area.  She mentioned that the total grant amount we received was $108,500.00. 
Ms. Enos brought out that we received five bids for this project.  We asked that all the bids that came in be reviewed to be certain they complied with all the requirements set forth in the bid requirements.  

Ms. Enos stated that Mr. Bolby’s (of The EADS Group) recommendation, after review, is Whitehorse Excavating, LLC. of Berlin, with the lowest responsive bid of $84,950.00. 

Ms. Enos stated that Borough Council is being asked to consider awarding this bid to that contractor.

Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Pyle seconded to award the Highland Park Looped Water Line Project to Whitehorse Excavating, LLC, the lowest responsive bidder, in the amount of $84,950.00.
Motion Unanimously Carried

  (b) Sewer Plant Primary Clarifier Baffle Replacement Project – Consider authorizing
       this project to the lowest responsive bidder.  

Ms. Enos stated that this project was also discussed at the Committee of the Whole Meeting, along with Mr. Bolby.  This project was budgeted as a Capital Project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for this year.  Ms. Enos mentioned that $50,000.00 was budgeted for this project. 

Ms. Enos brought out that the Borough received only one bid after publicly advertising.  She mentioned that the sole bidder was also the contractor we had used for the last four projects at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The contractor is J.P. Environmental, LLC.  Their bid came in at $39,300.00.  Borough Council was asked to consider that this contractor be awarded that bid.

Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mrs. Ream seconded to award the Sewer Plant Clarifier Baffle Replacement Project to J.P. Environmental, LLC., the lowest responsive bidder, in the amount of $39,300.00.
Motion Unanimously Carried

General Public Comments:

  (a) Lorraine Jubick & Diane Tomko: of the 300 Block of West Church Street were present to make Council aware about the issues along that street. They memtioned about potholes; speeding cars; and bus traffic generated by the school.    

Discussion was held about the condition of the Borough’s streets.

Ms. Enos explained that they had gone out with New Enterprise examining the condition of the Borough streets.  As a result, she mentioned that she is aware of the concern of the residents.   
Ms. Enos stated that she is aware that cold patch does not last.  She said that, especially when we get rain falls that the storm system can’t handle, she knows that it only deteriorates those patches further.  It’s only a temporary fix for the roads.

Ms. Enos explained that the Borough only has a limited amount in the budget for paving.  She disclosed that they have been looking for ways, over the last several years, to consolidate Borough positions when individuals are retiring. She brought out that the Borough is trying to do more work with less employees.  Ms. Enos added that the Borough is trying to come up with ways to further increase our budget for paving, and other expenses, in the General Fund.

Ms. Enos brought out that the prices in paving have increased greatly.  She disclosed that last year, it cost the Borough almost $70,000.00 to pave two blocks. 

Ms. Enos added that she is trying to provide a perspective on the budget aspect of paving. She disclosed that the Borough is going to be making the final list, in the next few weeks, on what streets will be addressed with this year’s paving budget.

(b) Jeff Thomas, Nominee for District Attorney:

Mr. Thomas stated that he is a Republican Nominee for District Attorney in Somerset County.  He discussed his background, and why he was running for District Attorney of Somerset County.

Mr. Thomas disclosed his views about overcoming the drug epidemic in Somerset County, and his strong desire to help Veterans.

He mentioned that he would be happy to answer any questions that Council had for him. 

Administrative Business:
  (a) Communications (None)

  (b) Payment of bills:

Motion
Mr. Thomas moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to approve the payment of bills numbered
33238 – 33378 totaling $620,081.96.
Motion Unanimously Carried

Policy Agenda:

Old Business:
  (a) None

New Business:
  (a) Sewage Flow Meters – Consider authorizing the purchase of 4 flow meters to be utilized in our Sanitary Collection System.  The quote was from Hach Company in the amount of $38,139.84 through the Co-Stars Cooperative Purchasing Program.

Ms. Enos mentioned that this project has been bid out by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Enos brought out that the 4 flow meters for the Sanitary Collection System were discussed at our Committee of the Whole Meeting.  She added that the 4 flow meters would enable us to measure the flow as we move forward with our stormwater and infiltration issues.  

Ms. Enos expressed that Borough Council was being asked to consider the purchase of the 4 flow meters for the Borough’s Sewage Collection System.

Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Ream seconded, to authorize the purchase of 4 flow meters to be utilized in our Sanitary Sewage Collection System. The quote from Hach Company is in the amount of $38,139.84 through the Co-Stars Cooperative Purchasing Program.

Motion Unanimously Carried

  (b) Water Services Agreement – Consider executing a Water Services Agreement with Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority to transfer 12 customers for billing and maintenance purposes. 

Ms. Enos stated this is a tri-party agreement. 

She brought out that the reason for this transfer, is that we had 12 customers that were accessed off of the Borough’s main line.  At the time, Jefferson Township did not have a Water and Sewer Authority created.  In the meantime, they have created one. 

As a result, these already existing Jefferson Township customers, are being transferred to them officially for billing and maintenance purposes. 
Ms. Enos disclosed that this takes an agreement between three parties…Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority, Somerset Borough Municipal Authority and Somerset Borough Council.

Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority has executed, and approved, their copy. The Somerset Borough Municipal Authority did the same last week at their Municipal Authority Meeting.  Borough Council was asked to consider this as well.

Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded, to execute a Water Services Agreement with Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority to transfer 12 customers for billing and maintenance purposes. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

Executive Session – To discuss matters of litigation.

Motion
       Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded, to go into Executive Session to discuss matters of potential litigation.  

Motion Unanimously Carried
7:34 pm

Back in Public Session

7:49 pm

ADJOURNMENT

Motion
       Mrs. Opp moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mrs. Ream.

 Motion Unanimously Carried
7:51 p.m.     


_______________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough Secretary